Color harmonizing apparatus



Jan. l, 1935. E. D( 'nMMs COLOR HARMONIZING APPARATUS Fild Dec. 14, 1932 Patented Jan. 1, 1935 UNITED STTS j l Y 1,986,121

PAT-ENT vfoFfFlor. N

ooLoR HAnMoNIzING .LlPPARAfrUsV Eugene D. Timms, Los Angeles, Calif.

` Application December 14, 1932, Serial No. 647,099'

claims. (o1. as iv) order to observe the general effect of different color schemes; In selling paints to persons who intend to decorate interiors, the paint salesmennow'emplo'y a large number of small blades, each bladecarrying a distinctive color which the prospective purchaser may examine in order to determine approximately what the appearance of the paint will have von the surface, butsuch means does not enable the prospective purchaser to form any idea ofithe approximate general effect of the completely decorated interiorwhich he may havein mind. A

In vorder itoV meetthis diiliculty, paint com- 25 panies sometimes provide a series of pictures showing the .corner of a ,room inthe different colors for theiwall, ceiling, and floor. However, as there are a great many different'combinations of colors, this requires a great number of coloredA plates or prints. y

The general object of this invention is toprovide simple means for reproducing in miniature, substantially the samegeneral effect of different color combinations, in other words, to produce in a simple `way, ,av representation` of acorner of a room withrt'h'e'wallsj ceiling, Vand floor'having certain assumed colors in order to enable the general effect of the color scheme toi be studied.

A further `object rof the, invention .is to -pro- 40 vide'apparatus of this kind, .with means for indicating'the Vgeneral effect which would beattained by `using l different colors for doors or windows', or. other fixtures in the room.

' Further objects of the inventionwill appear hereinafter.

all of which'contribute to produce an vefficient color harmonizing apparatus.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the following specification, while ther broad scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.l

In the drawing:

c' Figure 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention.A

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1, but showing the revealing frame of thedevice in 'a slightly tilted position. 5

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1, and further illustrating the details of the apparatus.

Figure 4 isa rear elevation of one end of the vrevealing frame, together with removable panels 10v intended Yto carry different colors for observing theeffects of different color combinations, certain parts being broken away.

Figure 5 is a front elevation upon a reduced scale, illustratingthe use of a special panel for l5 representing thevflxture which is supposed to project from the wall.

Figure 6 is a vertical section upon an enlarged scale, taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 5. V

Before proceeding to a' detailed vdescription of the invention, it should be stated that in accordance with my invention, I employ panels of different colors, which, when applied to each other, give' the effect of a perspective,` so as to represent a portion of an interior, preferably. a corner offa room', Iand by reason of the manner in which these panels are shaped and applied to each other, la; perspective effect isy attained, giving a miniature View of the interior which is to be decorated. By employing panels of differentcolors, the effect of different combinations of colors for the floor, ceilingl and walls, may be observed. i

Referring more particularly to the parts, and especially to Figures 1 and 2the apparatus preferably comprises a revealing frame" or display frame 1 of square form, which is preferably black in color so as not to influence-the color effect of the parts carrying a colorv and which are displayed in a rectangular, or square central display opening 2 in the revealing frame. This revealing frame is preferably supported so that it is capable of slight adjustment onahorizontal axis. For this purpose it is preferablysupported on a small frame'3 which fincludesend i osts 4, whichk ivotall su ort the frame 1 on y The invention consists of the-novel parts and p p y pp 4 combination of parts to bedescribed hereinafter, l

trunnions. These trunm'ons are in theform of threaded bolts with wing nuts 6, which enable the` frame to be clamped in any tilted position desired. On the rear side ofthe revealing frame, I mount removably,'a main panel '7. This main panel may be formed of thin board of any kind. ,In practice I `would provide a plurality of these main panels which Would be of different distinctive colors, so that any one of the main l Ul ' the intersection. of the lines 114 Iand 15.

panels could be put in place to represent the color of the walls of the interior to be represented in miniature. Preferably at the vertical center of the panel 7, I place a Vertical walldividing line 8 which divides the forward face of the panel 7 into a right-hand wall 9 and a lefthand wall 10.

In addition to this vI provide a plurality of lower panels or floor panels such as the panel 11, and these floor panels are lof` dierentrdistinc.- tive colors. Each oor panel is of substantially triangular form,A yand is formed with'an'obtuse angle 12. Ihe oor panel 11 is of triangular form and preferably simply rests on the ledge 13 that is formed by the lower edge of the opening 2. The angle 12 formed between the upper edges of the floor panel, is the same as the angle `formed between the linesV at thelower edges ,gif4

of degrees to,receive an upper panel or` ceiling.

panel 16. I provide a plurality vof these.V ceiling 'panels'such as-the panel 16, andthe lower portions of these panels A16 are .of substantially trifangular form, that is, their lower edges are cut to the same angle in degreesl asthe notch, so as to fit into the obtuse angle 17 formed by By providing ceiling panels 16l lof different colors, diiferent colored panels canfbe substituted for each other thereby enabling the .user to observe their general eiect. when combined with different Wall colorsas exemplified in the par-y ticular main panel `7 that is mounted in the panel 11.

frame. The exposed portion of each panel 16 is of triangular form, but each upper panel 16 has a 'substantially rectangular body portion 18 for securing itto the. rear side of the revealing frame 1. "(See Fig. 4).

.If it isdesired to observe `the effect of a rug of a certain color on a iioor panel 11 of a 'certaincolor, Athis maybe done' by providing an additional panel 19 of substantially triangular form, (seeFig. 1), colored and gure'd'to indicate a corner ci a rug. This panel v19 should. be laid centrally in the frame opening' 2 and directly in front of the central portion of the Like the panel 11', this piece 19 may simply rest "upon the lower edge of the opening 2.

With apparatus constructed as described, it will be evident that aperspective effect is attained,.which gives the effect of a miniature of a corner of a room;A If it is desired to study the effect of different colors for iixtures such as doors andwindows, this may be done by pro-y viding a door panel 20 and window panel 21. The face of these panels 20 and 21 will be colored and lined to represent doors and windows,v and the upper and 'lower edges of these panels converge toward Vthe wall-dividing line-8, so as to give a correct perspective effect, `for example, in the left-hand wall 10 the line 22 that is formed by the `upper left sideof the floor panel 11,v

converges toward the upper line 15 and would intersect the same at a Vanishing point. The upper edge 23 of the door panel shouldA pass through this Vvanishing point.y Any other horipoint for the upper and lower edges of the righthand wall 9 of the panel.

Any suitable means may be provided for removably supporting the door panel and the window panel on the main panel. For this purpose I prefer to provide each of these panels with a pintle such as the pintle 26 of a light, compressible Amaterial such as cork, rubber, or any other suitable material. In the case of the door panel, the bottom edge of the door will rest against the upper edgel or line 22 of thefloorpanel, and this will keep the door upright. In the case of a window panel, the pintle 27 for the window panel, is preferably located above the center of gravity of the window panel as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1.

Any suitable means may be employed for holdingthe main panel 7 and the ceiling panels 16 in position. For this purpose I may employ spring clips 28 mounted to rotate on pins `29 respectively. vThe rear side ofthe frame 1 ispreferably' provided `with a wide, rabbet groove 30 having sufcient depth to receive the main panel andthe ceiling panel, the ceiling panel being preferably received in a recess formed inthe upper edge of .the main panel. (SeefFig.l 4.)

VIf it lis desired to study the effect of a jutting xture such as a kitchen-cabinet or wash-stand, Y

or tub, in the case of a bathroom, a special panel for this purpose is'provided. In the present instance, inV Figure 5 I illustrate the use of a special panel 31 of this character. The right-hand edge of this panelA is cut on a line to represent the outline of one end of such a fixture, and this panel is `thicker than the floor panel 32, so that the lower edge 33 of the iixture panel 31 can project over the adjacent upper edge 34 of the iioorpanel. This gives a good perspective effect. This is illustrated in Figs. 5 'and 6.

In using this apparatus for demonstrating the effects of different color combinations, a painter would show the purchaser a great number of diierent panels 7 corresponding to different wall colors. The selected wall panel is then s et up in the opening 2, with its wall-dividing line 8 in a vertical position. Diierent oor panels 11 andrceiling panels 16 are then put in place so as to observe ,the general effect. If desired, the door panels or window panels can be put in place to observe the effect of diierent colors applied to such doors and windows. A

The vdoor panels and window panels can be secured by inserting their pintles 26 through corresponding-.openings 2601I in thewall panels.

It is understood that in practicing the invention, modifications in the structure described in the specication may be made, coming within the spirit of this invention. t

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for harmonizing color combinations for room interiors, the combination of a substantially flat main panel having a V- shaped notch in its upper edge and having a vertical line thereon in line with the vertex of said notch dividing the same into a right-hand section representing one wall of the room and a left-hand section representing an adjacent wall ofthe room, a plurality of lower panels of different floor colors,said lower panels being of substantially triangular form with an obtuse angle, means for supporting any one of the lower panels adjacent the lower edge of the main panel and with they vertex of the obtuse angle of the triangle substantially coinciding with the said vertical line, and a plurality of ceiling panels of different colors, each ceiling panel having a V- shaped angle at its lower edge equal to the angle of said notch and tting into the notch so as to be capable of being supported one at a time at the said notch in the upper edge of saidl main panel.

2. In apparatus for harmonizing color combinations for room interiors, the combination of a substantially flat main panell having a vertical line thereon dividing the saine into a right-hand section representing one wall of the room and a left-hand section representing an adjacent wall of the room, said sections having like colored surfaces toward the observer, a lower panel having a distinctive floor color, said lower panel being of `substantially triangular form with an obtuse angle, an upper panel having a distinctive ceiling color, said upper panel being of substantially triangular form formed at its lower end with an obtuse angle, means Afor supporting the lower panel adjacent the lower edge of the mainy panel with the vertex of the obtuse angle of the triangle substantially coinciding withl the said vertical line, and means for supporting the upper panel adjacent the upper edge of the main panel, with the vertex of its obtuse angle substantially coinciding with the said vertical line, and a plurality of distinctively colored window panels representing window` frames of different colors, said window panels having vertical side edges and converging upper and lower edges, with said upper and lower edges converging toward said vertical line and means for removably supporting any one of the window panels on one of the said sections of the main panel.

3. In apparatus for harmonizing color combinations for room interiors, the combination of a display frame having an opening therein with a substantially horizontal lower edge, a substantially ilat main panel resting against the back of the display frame, said panel having a vertical line thereon dividing the same into a right-hand section representing one wall of the room, and a left-hand section representing an adjacent wall of the room, a lower panel of a distinctive floor color, said lower panel being of substantially triangular form with an obtuse angle disposed upwardly and supported on the said lower edge of said opening, with the obtuse angle of the lower panel aligning with the said vertical line, an upper panel of a distinctive ceiling color, said upper panel being of substantially triangular form at its lower end with an obtuse angle and. mounted'so that the vertex of said obtuse angle is in alignment with the said vertical line. i

4 In apparatus for harmonizing color combinations for room interiors, the combination of `a substantially flat main panel having a V-shaped notch in its upper edge, with a vertical line thereon in line with the vertex of the notch dividing the panel into a right-hand section representing one wall of the room and a lefthand section representing an adjacent wall of the. room, the lower panel having a distinctive floor color, said lower panel being of substantially triangular form with an obtuse angle uppermost, an upper panel having a distinctive ceiling color, said upper panel being of substantially triangular form` with a V-shaped lower edge having the same angle as said notch and fitting into the same, means for supporting the lower panel adjacent the lower edge of the main panel with the vertex of its said obtuse angle aligning with the said vertical line, a plurality of different colored door panels with vertical side edges and with converging upper and lower edges, with said upper and lower edges converging toward the said vertical line, with means for supporting any one of the door panels on one of the sections of said main panel.

5. In apparatus for studying color combinations for room interiors, the combination of a frame with an opening therein, a substantially flat main panel having a V-shaped notch in its upper edge with a vertical wall-dividing line aligning with the vertex of the said V-shaped notch, said wall-dividing line dividing the main panel into a right-hand section representing the right-hand wall of the room and a left-hand section representing the left-hand wall of the room, said sections having a colored surface of the same distinctive color, `means for supporting the said main panel on said frame and back of said opening, a floor panel having a distinctive iioor color, said floor panel being of substantially triangular form with an obtuse angle, said floor panel supported onthe lower edge of the said opening of said frame with the vertex of its obtuse angle aligning with said wall-,dividing line, a ceiling panel having a distinctive ceiling color, said ceiling panel being of substantially triangular form below with an obtuse angle equal to the angle of said notch and fitting into the same.

EUGENE D. TIMMS. 

